St. Valentine’s Day: A history and present day debacle Edition of #7QT – Vol. 15

Who is this guy? History says we don’t really know. According to The Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragaine, the name Valentine in Latin is made up of valorem and tenens or value and holding. Dear Jacobus goes on to say that the name could be a translation for a valiant soldier of Christ.

A valiant soldier is one who has never fallen, who strikes hard, defends himself bravely, and conquers decisively. Thus Valentine never failed by shunning martyrdom, he struck hard by putting down idolatry, he defended his faith by confessing it, he conquered by suffering. (p. 159)

If that doesn’t sound like quality husband material, I don’t know what does. I am afraid to say, that this isn’t the whole story.

A priest in the Roman Empire who helped persecuted Christians during the reign of Claudius II, was thrown in jail and later beheaded on Feb. 14. He could be a Catholic bishop of Terni who was beheaded, also during the reign of Claudius II. He could have also been someone who secretly married couples when marriage was forbidden, or suffered in Africa, or wrote letters to his jailer’s daughter, and was probably beheaded.

So how did we get St. Valentine’s day – the romantic gesture holiday? A Roman festival called of Lupercalia, dedicated to Lupercus. The way this festival worked, a young buck would draw the name of a young lass and she would be their sexual partner for until the next festival of Lupercalia

The Pope at the time, Gelasius I wasn’t thrilled at this sexual partner exchange. Putting a spin on this festival, the Pope had the young bucks and lasses draw the names of saints to model their lives after for the year. Lupercus was swapped as the patron of the feast for St. Valentine. Roman men still sought the affections of their lady loves under the banner of St. Valentine (to keep it on the up and up, I’m sure!)

It’s me and the gnome for Valentine’s Day because my husband will be traveling back from a business trip. He planned a delivery of flowers and chocolates complete with a teddy bear to be sent to the office, but the #snowpocalypse took care of ruining that surprise.Not like I was totally upset. I have a thing with gift surprises, I can’t keep them if I’m doing the giving and I need to know if I am receiving! I had to call and re-route the delivery to my home otherwise the security guards would be chomping on all the chocolate covered caramels, cherries and other favorites.

— 6 —

We had plans for dinner, but seeing as the weather won’t let up (we got about a foot and are in for another 4-6 inches) we opted to have a nice breakfast on Monday after we dropped off the kiddos. They lost President’s Day with all the other snow days we’ve had. I just heard we’re getting another storm Sunday into Monday which means – no breakfast as the kiddos will probably be home that day too.

I just received a call from the Principal that school is off tomorrow as well, so scratch #5. It’s going to be me, the boys and felt scraps. It’s all I have left in the craft arsenal, friends. I’m actually out of glitter. Any ideas on what to do with felt scraps? I’m thinking mustaches and makeshift valentine e-cards for ya?

Lordy, this totally changed my perspective on Valentine’s Day. How awesomely sordid! I want a Lupercalia festival darnit! Is that so wrong? 🙂 Sorry the weather has put a bit of a damper on your day but hopefully it turned out great regardless, Cristina 🙂

Hello, my name is Cristina. I am a working mother, wife and Catholic convert living an unequally yoked marriage. I am also a writer and social media addict. Sound like I have my hands full? They are, so it helps that I make the best faith cocktails around: equal parts faith, humor and charity. Stick around, I may just surprise ya.